Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Introduction

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, founded in 1960, is one of the longest-established departments at IQS.  The members of the department work in 7 laboratories: Ecotechnology, Chemical Formulations, Pharmaceutical Technology, Vascular Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering, Thermal Analysis and Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials.

Its areas of activity focus on chemical and biological industrial processes, sustainability and environment, biomedical engineering, circular economy, development of advanced materials and industrial safety.

Teaching

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science is responsible for teaching aspects related to process engineering, chemical technology, sustainability and environmental engineering, thermodynamics, materials and surface science and engineering, separation processes, reaction engineering, fluid mechanics and industrial safety.

The members of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science teach in the degrees of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmacy and Engineering in Industrial Technologies. In addition, the Department coordinates the Masters’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering.

Research

The lines of research are framed in the areas of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Technology, Environmental Technologies and Biotechnology/Biomedicine.

Ecotechnology Laboratory

The Ecotechnology Laboratory is part of the GESPA group (Group of Engineering and Simulation of Environmental Processes). Among its research lines are the capture and use of CO2, minimization of the impact of fluorinated gases on climate change, elimination of persistent and/or emerging pollutants in water, sustainability analysis and circular economy.

Members of the department: Dr. Rafael González, Dr. Oriol Pou, Dr. Javier Fernández, Mr. Damià Palmer

Vascular Engineering Laboratory

The Vascular Engineering Laboratory is part of the GEVAB group (Vascular Engineering and Applied Biomedicine Group).  Among its research lines is the development of biomaterials to treat vascular pathologies and the study of other clinical needs, integrating knowledge of medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computing.

Department Members: Dr. Jordi Martorell, Dr. José Javier Molins

Chemical Engineering and Processes Laboratory

The Chemical Engineering and Processes Laboratory is part of the GFQ group (Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group). Among its research lines are the application of new advanced manufacturing technologies in fine chemistry, to transform and optimize batch production systems continuously, making them more efficient, more stable, safer, faster and cleaner processes.

Department members: Dr. Julià Sempere, Dr. Rosa Nomen, Dr. Xavier Berzosa, Dr. Eduard Serra, Dr. Rubén Mercader.

Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Engineering Laboratory

The Nanotechnolgoy and Advanced Materials Laboratory is part of the GEMAT (Materials Engineering Group) and GAM (Additive Manufacturing Group). Among its research lines are the metallic and ceramic coatings (CVD, PVD, Sol-gel, etc.), biomaterials, silicone modifications, bioceramic coatings for prostheses and implants, nanostructured functional surfaces, hybridization and encapsulation of micro and nanoparticles, graphene and derivatives synthesis, synthesis of nanostructured materials, chemical, microstructural and tribological characterization of nanostructured materials and study of mechanical products of thin sheets, alloys and ceramic materials.  New strategies based on surface engineering are also being developed to provide bioactive properties to materials for the improvement and development of medical devices.

Members of the department: Dr. Carles Colomines, Dr. Manuel Abad, Dr. Robert Texidó, Mr. Andreu Férriz

Thermal Analysis Laboratory

The Thermal Analysis Laboratory is part of the GFQ group (Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group). Among its activities are the of thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine heat and melting points, thermal stability of substances and mixtures, process safety, polymorphism studies, identification and characterization of polymers, kinetic studies, moisture, and study of adsorbents, etc.

Members of the department: Dr. Eduard Serra, Dr. Daibel de Armas

Chemical Formulations and Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratories

These laboratories are part of the GFQ group (Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group). Among its research lines are the optimization of freeze-drying processes of medicines and food products and the obtaining of biocompatible artificial membranes for the study of the effect of active ingredients.

Department Members: Dr. Alberto Balfagón